Stepladder



M-. w. REEVES.

-STEPLADDER. A'PPLICATIQNfILED-JUKE11271920.

Patented May 24, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPLADDER.

Application filed. June 16, 1920.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAnIsoN W. a citizen of the United States, residing at Sayre, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stepladders, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to improvements in step ladders, of that type comprising a stepportion and brace-legs hinged at their upper ends to the upper end of the step-portion, the step-portion and the brace-legs being connected between their ends to hold them in their proper operative position- One object of my invention is to provide an attachable and detachable extension leg adapted to be attached to either of the brace-legs, whereby the ladder can be supported in a proper upright position upon an uneven surface.

Another object of my invention is to pro- 'vide an improved step-portion having its lower end so constructed that it can be placed in the corner of a room, thus bringing the step-portion close to the corner walls, whereby the user can be in an elevated position at the corner walls of a building or room.

Another object oi my invention is to provide the top step of the ladder with folding means for holding tacks, nails, etc., the top step acting as a cover for the holding box when it is in its folded position.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following disclosure and description.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view oi my improved stepladder, showing it in its operative position on an uneven surface and its extension leg in use.

Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the extension leg and its clamp.

Fig. 3 is a detached fragmentary perspective showing the manner of attaching the extension leg.

Fig. 4c is a vertical section transverse the top step, showing the holding box in its unfolded position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental top plan view of the top step of the ladder and the receptacle box, the position of the box when not in use being shown in dotted lines.

My improved step ladder comprises a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 24, 1921.

Serial No. 389,317.

step-portion A, and a brace leg-portion B. The step-portion comprises vertical sides 1, which are connected at their upper ends by a top step 2. These sides converge toward each other from their upper to their lower ends, and their lower ends are connected by a bottom step 3. A stub-leg portion 4 has its upper end connected to the under side of the bottom step 3 at its center, and is preterably as wide as the step and extends transverse the step, as shown. For the purpose of bracing the stub-leg 4t, angular bracingblocks 5 are attached in any suitable man ner at the angular junction of the stub-leg 4 and step 3. A suitable number of steps 6 are supported by the sides, between the upper and lower steps 2 and 3. By this con struction with the stub-leg l at the bottom of the step-portion A, the step-portion can have its lower end placed at the corner of the rectangular walls of rooms or buildings,

whereby the user can be supported in an elevated position adjacent the corner walls, and at the same time provides an etlicient support for the step portion.

The brace-leg portion B comprises two legs 7, which have their upper ends pivoted to the outer sides of the sides 1, of the stepportion near their upper ends at the points 8, and these legs 7 diverge outward so that their lower ends are well separated to form a broad base support, to prevent the stepportion tilting which is common to ladders 01" this character. A cross-bar 9 connects these brace legs 7 intermediate their ends, and to this cross-bar, members 10 are hinged at their outer ends as at 11. The inner ends of these hinged members 10 are connected together by a cross-bar 12 and hinges 13 connect their under sides with the inner ends of members 14:. These members 14 have their outer ends pivoted at the points 15, to the outer sides of the step-portion A. By this construction the members 10 and 14: can swing upward to permit the brace-leg portion B to fold inward approximately parallel to the step-portion A, when the ladder is not in use. For the purpose of providing broad foot-portions for the brace-legs 7., I attach to the inner sides of their lower ends angular blocks 16, with the widest parts at the lower ends of the brace-legs 7. This enables the ladder to be used in soft surfaces without the brace-legs sinking thereinto, to the extent that the usual smaller foot ends of such brace-legs will.

My present invention also comprises an attachable and detachable extension brace leg C. This leg is made of substantially the same cross-sectional area as the brace-legs and has at its lower end the broadened footblock 17. Attached to the upper end of this extension leg C is an L-shaped metal plate 18, and below this L-shaped plate is attached a straight flat plate 19. These plates are attached to opposite edges of the extension leg C, and are separated from each other a distance at least sufficient to permit the bracelegs 7 to extend between them, as shown in Fig. 3. \Vhen the brace is in its operative position, as shown in Fig. 1, the brace-leg '7 is in the space 20, between the free end of the L-shaped plate 18 and the brace-leg. These plates hold the upper end of the extension leg firmly in its proper relation to the brace leg 7, and the lower portion of the extension-leg C is clamped to the brace leg 7 by a U-shaped clamp 21, carrying a thumb screw 22. In applying the extension leg 0 to the brace-leg 7, the extension-leg is placed in a substantially horizontal position in respect to the brace-leg, as shown in Fig. 3, and then turned downward, which causes the brace-leg 7 to be located between the free end of the L-shaped plate 18, and the extension leg and the flat plate 19 to rest against the edge of the brace-leg 7. The clamp 21 is then applied, as shown in Fig. 1. The extension leg is detached by removing the clamp 21 and turning the leg to the position, shown in Fig. 3. By this construction the extension-leg C can be applied to either'of the brace legs 7 to support the ladder in the proper position on uneven surfaces and can be projected the proper distance to accomplish that result.

An open top box 23 is pivoted to the under side of the top-step 2, by suitable pivot 24, which is located adjacent the outer corner of the inner end of the box 23, and the extremity of the pivoted corner is cut away, as at 25, whereby the box may be turned outward, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, for use, or folded inward under the shelf 2, when not in use. This box is adapted to receive tacks, nails, etc., and when it is folded under the step 2, the step forms a top for the box, thus preventing the falling out of its contents. A hook 26 projects from the under side of the outer portion of the box 23, so that a bucket or other article may be suspended therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I 1. A step ladder of the class described, having an extension leg, said leg provided at one end with an L-shaped plate and a flat plate attached to opposite edges thereof, and the other end of said legprovided with a clamp for embracing both the extension leg and the ladder leg.

2. A. step-ladder comprising a step-portion, a brace-leg portion for supporting the step-portion, an extension-leg having at one end an L-shaped plate and a flat plate attached to opposite edges and in separated relation to operate as described, and a clamp for embracing both the extension and the ladder brace-leg.

3. An extension leg for step ladders, comprising an elongated member having a flat plate and an L-shaped plate connected to opposite edges of its upper end in separated relation, a clamp adapted to embrace the lower portion of the leg and a ladder braceleg and detachable as described.

4:. An extension-leg for step ladders, comprising an elongated member, a flat plate and an L-shaped plate connected to opposite edges of the elongated member in separated relation with the L-shaped plate above the flat plate, a clamp forthe lower portion of the extension-leg and detachable as described.

5. An extension leg for step ladders, comprisin an elongated member having a fiat plate andan L-shaped plate connected to oppositeedges of its upper end, the plates In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my" signature.

MAnisoN w. nerves. 

